One of the changes women 50+ notice in their skin first is that it becomes much drier than it was before menopause. I mean, much drier. For most of my life, I had to blot oil off my T-Zone and spent so much money on mattifying products to keep down shine. Now, not so much. These are the best moisturizers for mature skin that I have tried, and every single one of them makes a big difference in the health and appearance of aging skin. From tinted moisturizers, night creams, body lotions, drugstore finds, and even moisturizers with SPF, I am sharing my favorites so that you don’t have to spend the hundreds (and hundreds!) of dollars I have spent trying them all!
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How to Choose the Best Moisturizer for Your Aging Skin
So let me be clear… For me, face moisturizers are about creating a protective barrier so that your skin can naturally stay healthy. It is not about anti-aging. I leave that to the night serums and treatments. (Which, BTW, should be followed by a good moisturizer!) Now, if my cream or lotion happens to have some great ingredients as well, that’s just icing on the cake. But here is what I look for in a good one:
- Locks in moisture for an entire day or night.
- Creates a smooth canvas for makeup.
- Is gentle but rich enough to be effective, without breaking me out.
- Feels luxurious on the skin, because honestly, at this point in my life, I deserve at least that!
Lastly, as many of my regular readers know, I don’t use nor recommend any product that isn’t cruelty-free. So my list will look a little different from most lists you will come across. Watch one YouTube video of bunnies getting chemicals dropped into their eyes in the name of beauty, and I promise you, you will get it.
Face Moisturizer Ingredients to Look for:
Again, you won’t see any specific anti-aging ingredients in this list, although these ingredients certainly do help with aging skin. However, the best moisturizing ingredients I have found are ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane.
What are Ceramides?
Ceramides are fats found naturally in your skin. However, as we get older, our skin does not produce the same amount of ceramides it once did. Replacing those with a face moisturizer containing ceramides can help re-establish a healthy skin barrier, protecting you from environmental stresses and moisture loss.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant. Basically, this means it pulls moisture into the skin and traps it there. In fact, hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water! This is especially good for mature skin, as it helps plump up those areas with wrinkles and lost volume. Even though the word “acid” is in its name, it is gentle on the skin.
Why Glycerin?
Glycerin has been used in beauty products for decades because it works. Also a humectant, it is safe for sensitive and dry skin and helps lock in that moisture your skin barrier needs to be strong.
What the Heck is Squalane?
When I discovered squalane, it was a game changer for me. A naturally occurring oil, it is lightweight, deeply moisturizing, and won’t break you out. It mimics your skin’s natural oils, and it doesn’t clog pores. It is known for increasing skin’s elasticity.
Ok, so here are my top picks for the best moisturizers for mature skin!
My #1 Best Moisturizer for Mature Skin
Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturizer
My number #1 for the best moisturizer for mature skin is without a doubt, Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturizer with Squalane. It is silky, holds in moisture forever,(it has 24-hour hydration) is great under makeup, and never breaks me out. I wear this daily during the winter, and cannot be without it. I love it. It has squalane which is my favorite ingredient for soothing and repairing the skin’s barrier. I don’t think they have a bad product, which is why you will see them again farther down my list! (If you have really dry skin, they also have their Ultra Facial Cream as well, which is a bit richer with 72-hour hydration!)
DRMTLGY Water Crème Moisturizer
I have recently fallen in love with this brand. I love this face cream moisturizer when my skin is running more on the oily side. It is lightweight, absorbs super fast, but locks that moisture in! If you feel like face creams leave you feeling sticky and greasy, this one is for you! Here is a review from their website! “I’m 63 years old. Breast cancer warrior. Finally, a product that moisturizes my face without adding additional oil to an already oily area. My face hasn’t looked this good since my cancer treatment began. I use other DRMTLGY products as well and couldn’t be happier. Highly recommend.”
Best Tinted Moisturizer for Mature Skin
DrmtLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46
With hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, this is the best moisturizer for mature skin that multi-tasks. With a sheer tint that is suitable for all skin tones, and spf, it is my one-stop product when I want to go more natural, (which is a lot!) or when I am traveling. Keep in mind, that this is not meant to be a substitute for foundation. But you can add a little more coverage over the top of it as well. I will apply this, let set for several minutes, then use a beauty sponge to dab on a light concealer over my t-zone and around my eyes for a natural makeup look. Glow finish. They have a matte version as well, but I find that too drying for my aging skin.
Best Moisturizer with SPF for Mature Skin – Physical Suncreen
DrmtLGY Physical Tinted Moisturizer SPF44
Same product with entirely physical sunscreens, if you prefer that.
Best Hyaluronic Face Moisturizer for Mature Skin
If you want a super silky face lotion that plumps fine lines, holds in moisture, and makes you feel like you are at a Japanese health spa, this is the one for you. According to their clinical trials, it is proven to reduce the look of dry, fine lines in 2 weeks.
- 100%Showed immediate improvement in skin plumpness, suppleness, and radiance.
- 100%Showed an all-day improvement in the skin barrier after 1 use.
And it just feels so amazing. This is the one I buy myself for Christmas! I use it after a self-spa day. Comes in several different sizes to fit your budget.
Best Plumping Moisturizer for Mature Skin
Il Makiage Power Lift Plumping Cream
So I recommend several of Il Makiage’s products, but this was my first. It is highly hydrating, and truly does plump your skin! When I tried it on my 80-year-old Mom’s face, she asked me what I had done to her face! (In a good way!) I do find it can be a bit heavy if you are over-generous in your application. I especially like this one around my eyes and on my neck! They literally have 28 thousand five-star reviews calling this the best moisturizer for mature skin!
Best Night Moisturizer for Mature Skin
Kiehls Midnight Recovery Omega Rich Botanical Night Cream
This nighttime moisturizer has a cult following and with good reason. Extremely healing and pampering, and full of good for your skin fatty acids, this is a great option to help repair the skin barrier overnight. It’s got a whipped texture that feels like a cloud, and they state on the website that 98% of participants feel their texture was more refined. It also contains squalane, one of my fav ingredients. This one does not make your skin feel like you’ve rubbed butter all over your face, which I hate about so many thick night creams.
This rich, reparative night cream is my go-to in the winter. It contains an innovative blend of 5 peptides and 3 ceramides that help with fine lines and elasticity. And it feels so soothing and protective, without being greasy. I love this stuff for nighttime when my skin is feeling a bit drier than usual.
Best Drugstore Face Moisturizer
I use several products from e.l.f. because they are a great drugstore brand. Their Holy Hydration line is an amazing, lightweight moisturizer full of hyaluronic acid and peptides. They have a gel cream option for those with oily skin, and also one with SPF! The best part? It’s $13. Now, this stuff is great, but I still prefer to spend a little extra on products with a bit more richness. But if your budget is tight, this is a solid pick!
Best Body Moisturizer for Mature Skin
It’s tough to find a good body moisturizer for mature skin that isn’t sticky and doesn’t absorb well. I am all for rich body cream, but if given a few minutes my clothes still stick to my skin, it’s a giant no for me. Here are the three I swear by.
DRMTLGY Exfoliating Body Lotion
This is the only anti-aging body moisturizer that doesn’t leave me with a weird residue on my skin. Made with lactic acid, it helps rid your skin of those keratosis bumps and that uneven texture a lot of us get as we age. I put this on right before I go to bed because the skin naturally repairs itself at night. Absorbs easily but leaves my skin feeling repaired, refreshed, and really soft.
Kroger Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Ok, you will see Cereve on many lists for best moisturizers, and with good reason, It’s great stuff. But the problem is, it isn’t cruelty-free. But I found a workaround. You can get the same ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and moisture from a knock-off product made by Kroger, who do happen to be cruelty free. And it works just the same! I can use it on my face, body, eyes, pretty much anywhere. It is a lightweight moisturizer that is a workhorse for a drugstore price. I like that it also plays nice with other products, like sunscreen and makeup. (It even says compare to Cereve on the label!)
That’s it! Those are the best moisturizers for mature skin that I have found, love and use!
Feel free to share this post with others who might also love to know my favorite picks for face lotions for aging skin!
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I think you will also love my posts on Best Concealers for Mature Skin and Best Primers for Mature Skin (That won’t leave you cakey or crepey!)!
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